Metal louver



Jan. 16, 1923. 1,442,045.

- G. BUHKHARDT.

METAL L ouvER. FILED MAH. 12, 1920.

Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

Gosfrnvn BURKHARDT, or CHICAGO, immers.'

METAL LOUVER.

s Application iled March 12, 1920. Serial N0. 365,363.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAvE BURKHARDT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chica-go, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useul Improvements in a Metal Louver, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a louver constructed of metal and includingnot only the louver boards proper, but also the casing and the structurein which these boards or slats are set. Although particularly designedand intended as a part of a' sprayer head house, the invention may beutilized Wherever applicable. The principal objects of the invention areto provide a construction of this kind which is both light and strongand is so formed as to utilize a light weight sheet material and at thesame time lobtain a result which ordinarily could not be obtained exceptwith a much heavier material. Another object of the invention is toconstruct a louver of this kind .which assists in breaking up thecurrent of air or` the volume of water which strikes the louvers,thereby rendering them more effective. The invention consists inthe'novel construction, combination and arrangement of the parts.

1n the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a. sprayer headhouse embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a view of a louver constructedin accordance with the principles of the invention; Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 illustrates a louver having aplurality of stiiening ribs; and 5'is a sectional view showing twoadjacent louvers.

It is customary to surround sprayer heads tor water cooling systems witha louver construction in which the slats are made oi wood. The presentinvention relates to the construction of louvers of this kind of thinsheet metal, which is made possible by form-` ing the louvers themselvesin such away that they are strengthening transversely andlongitudinally, so that they have great rigidity, and still are light inweight, and will not bender buckle when subjected to water or to highwind and rain storms. f

By making the louvers with a strengthening rib or ribs which extendlengthwise thereof, the rib acts to break up and to deflect the aircurrents which would otherwise scatter the spray from the sprayer head.This construction also confines the sprayed water within the sprayerhouse so thatit will not damage the walls or roofs of adj acentproperty, Aand by allowing the free pasi.

sage and circulation of air between the louvers, it causes a vcoolingeffect on hot sprayed water. i

Referring now more drawings, the frame in whichv the. louvers aremounted may be formed of wood `or other satisfactory supports, but inits preparticularly to the y erred construction, comprises hollow metaluprights 10, which are formed of sheet material lapped at oneportion,`as shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

Between the uprights' 10 any number of louvers are placed', whichl maybe placed apart any desired distance depending somewhat upon theprevailing velocity of the wind and water to which the lsprayer headhouse is subjected, thelower extremityof one louver usually being ataboutthe `same level as the upperiedge ot, the next lower louver, asshown more clearly in Fig. 5.

The preferred form of louver comprises aV single sheet of metal ofsuiiicient length to fit between the uprights, and this material is bentover at one edge 11 and formed with a bend 12, adjacent thereto whichadapts the adjacent face 13 to be inclined'to the horizontal, while thebent edge 11 is vertical. intermediate the upper and lower edges, an

offset 14 is provided by bendingthe material l Y y upon itself to forman overlapping shoulder or extension 15 after wliichthe material at 16is continued at the `same inclination as the portion 13. The upperportion 1*( is bent at such an anglel that it is parallel to the loweredge 11, and .the upper edge beyond this portion 17 is formed with ahorizontal portion 1S and a downwardly bent edge 19.

In effect this construction has three lougitudinal strengthening ribs,one at the lower edge, another at the upper edge, and an intermediaterib at the bend or offset. 1f desired, and where an extremely widelouver is to be used, this strengthening effect may be increased bycorrespondingly increasing the number of intermediate strengtheningribs20, as shown in Fig. 4. These ribs act not only as a defiector forbreaking up and revtarding the air and water currents which pass betweenthe louvers, but also, they act as catchers for rain and dirt whichengage them from without and thereby prevent objectionable matter frompassing between the louvers, and also confine the sprayed 4water withinthe sprayer house. V

ica

The ends of the louvers are formed with flaps 2l opposite the planeportions 13 and i6, and these 'flaps may he seeured to the upstandingribs at the center and upper edge of the louver by soldering or thelike, and the flaps are soldered or otherwise fastened to the uprightsl0. Flaps 22 may also he left at the upper and lower edges of thelouvers which can he attached at the front and rear sides of theuprights lO.

lVith this construction it is obvious that a louver Window, or aconstruction of this kind for protecting' and enclosing sprayer headsinay be made entirely Yll sheet inetal so that it is light and at thesaine tiine strong, and Simple in construction. As the loui'ers arestren gthen ed both transversely and longitudinally hy means of the. endlaps and the ribs, there no tendency for the louvers to liend orbuckle.1 except under excessive pressure, thus obtaining-'this efieetwith lighter material which could only he produced by usine a muchheavier `material, or hy using a Wooden louver, and in addition,accomplishing the other I results Which are described.

l elaiin:

l. A sheet metal louver slat having a longitudinal strengthening rihformed hy bending` the material upon itselil and then Jforming anyotlset in it so that the material on one side of the rib is inadiil'erent'plane than that on the other side.

- 2. A sheet metal louver slat comprising a bent upper edge and alongitudinalV strengthening rib. both of which are formed to partiallyoverhang a portion of the slut immediately below, and thus to formpockets which open outwardly.

3. The eornbinationvf'ith hollov.7 metallic uprights, of a plurality oflouver slats formed of sheet material, and each compris'- ingllongitudinal strengthening ribs, flaps at the ends for strengthening thelouver slat transversely, and for attaching it to' the casing, andadditional liaps at the upper and lower edge of each end for attaching;rthe louver slat to the Ytrout and rear face of the upright,

4t. ln a louver Window, a plurality of louver slats, each formed ofsheet material and having a lower edge lient upon itself to form astrengthening rib, Vand the upper edge bent to' overhang a portion ofthe louver surface and to torni a strengthening rib, the loweredge ofone louver slat being disposed the next loiver louver sla't.

at or below the plane 'ofthe upper edge of

